Sedan Bridge Looper boat?

I have also started looking, ideally we will take a year off in the next 4-6 years to do an extended loop.

From the specs in the manuals it looks to me like the 48/500/52/520 DB and the 58 DB can both fit if everything is folded down on the hardtop and radar/satellite are removed. I think its just the few bridges that have this low clearance so it doesn't seem bad to me. I would rather have a bit of work for a couple of days and enjoy the extra space for the other 360+ days!

The other option is to not loop and just do a summer in Maine/Nova Scotia and winter in the bahamas/carribean, but the loop is something I have always wanted to do since I read a story in the mid 80's about a couple of college kids doing it in a 17' Boston Whaler - the same model I drooled over as a kid!

Boat Guy said:

Perhaps you would like to read this...

https://interactive.wttw.com/chicago-river-tour/how-chicago-reversed-river-animated

I've know about the limitations of height due to some bridge over the ICW for years. Though, I never looked into it until now...Kind of makes me scratch my head that this limitation hasn't been rectified. It looks like the railroad bridge is still used and they don't want to fund raising it..

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You realize that Chicago no longer dumps raw sewage anymore. They have built water treatment plants since that time.

We know quite a few loopers. At first it sounded great. Then it seemed that a year or more of 50 miles a day at the cost of ~$100K wasn't my drug of choice.

Golfman25 said:

You realize that Chicago no longer dumps raw sewage anymore. They have built water treatment plants since that time.

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I know more than you think.....I'm probably the only one here that's toured a waste treatment facility and been briefed on the operation. I've seen the down and dirty, literally and the computer systems... Further, I traveled all over the coast of FL studying / viewing the waterways and meeting with the players....So, feel free to tell me about "semi-treated" sewage and trust Chicago....No disrespect, but that system was designed to give their problem to someone else.

On my 52 I have removed the sat dome. With the anchor light folded down it leaves the radar array as my highest point. It measures 19 feet to the water line. I have a 2009 52 sedan bridge. I just installed this new Magnum Raymarine array so I’m not sure if these are shorter or not but I am at 19 now anyway.

Ok, first hand experience as we completed the Great Loop May 2016 in our Sea Ray 420 AC “Aft Cabin”. The RR bridge in question south of Chicago is not operational (lift wise) and left in the down position.

Our 52 DB’s highest point loaded with Fuel, Water, about 1/2 tank of waste (sorry for your mental visual on that), original Ray Marine Radar, KVH Dish, and full live aboard conditions, we spend 250+ days aboard is 19’1”+-. Note, Fresh water would probably put us a shade to two under 19’ as fresh water is not as buoyant as salt water.

Maybe Captain Rusty would know about 52DB’s being delivered North into the Great Lake areas by going up stream from the Gulf side and can chime in here.

We are planning to go spend next summer back up in Canada and will decide then whether we will head back down the Western Rivers to Florida for the winter or back down the AICW. We ran upstream to Chattanooga, Tennessee and as far as Watts Bar before heading back down stream. Beautiful fall foliage as the our ride through the river gorge was spectacular.

Certainly not the exact answer anyone wants but the worst case is ya gotta take the rotating head off the radar and probably only the Dome cover on the KVH. I’ve been told you can also invite 20 of your friends for a short ride or pick up some others looking for a boat ride.

You here all kinds of numbers being thrown out there for cost of the trip so here my quick short info fwiw.

332 days & nights aboard, we could & did run about 18 knots when desired. About 8 nights on anchor and all cost excluding food, dinning or entertainment cost as that’s required wherever you are. No monthly mortgage payment included as everyone’s case is different. $113.31 per day total cost. We did about 40% of travel time in the 8nm range.

IMHO the cost per day was a deal as we spent 4.5 months in Florida of which 3 months were in KW costing $4,000 a month for slip fees.

If you have any interest in a great read, purchase the paper back book “ Honey, Let’s get a Boat by Ron & Eva Stob the authors. That’s a book I read about 15 years ago that put the desire in my head. I can honestly say I never thought it had a chance of happening.

Loosing my oldest sister “Ivy” at 46 to cancer shook my world and I decided there were some things I’d like to do and I was & have been so fortunate to have been able to do the Loop.

Hope this info helps but the final responsibility as always lays with the operator of the vessel.

Having just gone through the same thought process of the original poster, I bought a boat with a published height of over 19’10” above the waterline, with everything removed from the hard top. The measured height is 19’ 5” from the actual water line.

Why the discrepancy? The published height is also not necessarily the actual height when you factor in fuel, equipment, etc. It may also be that the buoyancy calculations were done for sea water, not fresh. The boat will sit slightly lower in fresh.

If a few inches more are needed, as previously stated - get a bunch of friends on board, or load up with other extra ballast.

Not to side track too much, but I know of the Chicago RR bridge at 19'6", but what's the next lowest bridge that can't be avoided to complete the loop?

swaterhouse said:

Not to side track too much, but I know of the Chicago RR bridge at 19'6", but what's the next lowest bridge that can't be avoided to complete the loop?

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On the Erie Canal... Today's canal runs an average of about 9 feet deep. It has a vertical clearance of 21 feet between Waterford and Three Rivers (Oswego Canal junction), and 15.5 feet between the Tonawanda and the Niagara river.

Bridge heights can be found here: http://www.canals.ny.gov/boating/bridgeheights.html

Also good Looper info can be found here: https://www.greatloop.org/

I can confirm that the 58’ Sedan Bridge can clear the RR bridge in Chicago based on the following circumstances:

1. Full fuel, water, and poop.
2. Removal of the radar array and sat tv dome.
3. Fold down the steaming light and vhf antenna.

Airhorns, hailer, and Glomex tv antenna clear by 2-3”

tc410 said:

I can confirm that the 58’ Sedan Bridge can clear the RR bridge in Chicago based on the following circumstances:

1. Full fuel, water, and poop.
2. Removal of the radar array and sat tv dome.
3. Fold down the steaming light and vhf antenna.

Airhorns, hailer, and Glomex tv antenna clear by 2-3”

View attachment 72078

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That's GREAT info to have -
I had thought that the 58 DB was off the list as possible loop boat
Thank you

Boat Guy said:

I know more than you think.....I'm probably the only one here that's toured a waste treatment facility and been briefed on the operation. I've seen the down and dirty, literally and the computer systems... Further, I traveled all over the coast of FL studying / viewing the waterways and meeting with the players....So, feel free to tell me about "semi-treated" sewage and trust Chicago....No disrespect, but that system was designed to give their problem to someone else.

Click to expand...

Hi - not to divert this thread too much - but I think @Boat Guy information on the Chicago River / sewage dumping may be a little bit out of date.

The Metropolitan Water District of Chicago has undertaken a $3 billion "Deep Tunnel" project to significantly reduce discharges of sewage into the river during heavy storms. Chicago uses a combined sewer / rainwater system - and thus during heavy rainstorms the excess water/sewage used to frequently flow into the river. The system can currently hold over 10 billion gallons of untreated water during a rainstorm with the capacity to eventually expand to 17 billion.

Now the river is clean enough to support over 50 species of fish. I have also toured waste treatment plants - and I've also extensively boated the Chicago river for years before moving out west. You frequently see many more kayakers, etc on the river. Don't get me wrong - you would not catch me dead swimming in the river - but I would never and did never hesitate to boat extensively in the river.

Here are a couple helpful links if you want to learn more:

Video on the process that the Chicago O'Brien Treatment plant uses before releasing treated water:

Wiki page on the "Deep Tunnel" project:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnel_and_Reservoir_Plan

hynespa said:

Hi - not to divert this thread too much - but I think @Boat Guy information on the Chicago River / sewage dumping may be a little bit out of date.

The Metropolitan Water District of Chicago has undertaken a $3 billion "Deep Tunnel" project to significantly reduce discharges of sewage into the river during heavy storms. Chicago uses a combined sewer / rainwater system - and thus during heavy rainstorms the excess water/sewage used to frequently flow into the river. The system can currently hold over 10 billion gallons of untreated water during a rainstorm with the capacity to eventually expand to 17 billion.

Now the river is clean enough to support over 50 species of fish. I have also toured waste treatment plants - and I've also extensively boated the Chicago river for years before moving out west. You frequently see many more kayakers, etc on the river. Don't get me wrong - you would not catch me dead swimming in the river - but I would never and did never hesitate to boat extensively in the river.

Here are a couple helpful links if you want to learn more:

Video on the process that the Chicago O'Brien Treatment plant uses before releasing treated water:

Wiki page on the "Deep Tunnel" project:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnel_and_Reservoir_Plan

Click to expand...

We win.... Detroit dumped 50 Million gallons of "partially treated" raw sewage into St Clair 6 weeks ago

https://www.wxyz.com/homepage-showc...e-st-clair-as-macomb-co-prepares-to-spend-30m

I don't want to derail the thread further...If you want to discuss waste water, I'm happy to do so in another thread.

Havana Shamrock said:

FYI: Sea Ray has the 500/520 DB’s at 20’-2” I believe that’s to the hardtop before accessories.

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Over the weekend I put a tape to my boat and it actually shows 16’-9” to the hardtop and 19’-9” to the top of the mast light.
No idea why Sea Ray has it published as 20’. Apologies

Havana Shamrock said:

Over the weekend I put a tape to my boat and it actually shows 16’-9” to the hardtop and 19’-9” to the top of the mast light.
No idea why Sea Ray has it published as 20’. Apologies

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Maybe fuel, water, black water, ice, beer and provisions versus an empty boat makes it settle a little lower?

Plus I don't recall them calling out salt water vs fresh water. Although it may be a rather marginal difference compared to a contain ship!

P.S. I don't mind a little thread derailing now and again, it keeps the thread alive and near the top so that people who don't check in so frequently might read and add to the thread.

P.P.S

Which Sedan Bridge boats have the galley at the same level as the saloon? I know the 47 and the 580 do.
My wife has decided she doesn't like the "galley down". (Seriously, it's only a step or two!!!!)

SeadawgVB said:

P.S. I don't mind a little thread derailing now and again, it keeps the thread alive and near the top so that people who don't check in so frequently might read and add to the thread.

P.P.S

Which Sedan Bridge boats have the galley at the same level as the saloon? I know the 47 and the 580 do.
My wife has decided she doesn't like the "galley down". (Seriously, it's only a step or two!!!!)

Click to expand...

480DB has the galley as the same level.

2005 and newer 550/58 has one step up to galley from saloon.